Latest news with #AhmedMusa
Iraqi News
4 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
UAE's Masdar, Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power to build 5 solar power plants in Iraq
Baghdad ( – The spokesperson for the Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ahmed Musa, revealed on Thursday that the Iraqi government will sign agreements soon with UAE-based Masdar and Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power to build five solar power plants. In a statement to the state-run news agency (INA), Musa explained that the Iraqi Electricity Ministry seeks to reach deals with major companies to build solar power plants in a step aiming to diversify Iraq's energy sources and adopt renewable energy, particularly solar energy. Solar power plants are currently under construction in the Iraqi provinces of Basra, Muthanna, Karbala, Babylon, and Dhi Qar, according to Musa. The Iraqi official added that ACWA Power will build a 1,000-megawatt solar power plant in the central Iraqi province of Najaf, and Masdar will build four plants with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts. Given the country's expanding power demand, the Iraqi government is implementing initiatives to diversify its energy sources and achieve its energy sector sustainability. In 2023, the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity intended to negotiate contracts with major corporations such as France-based TotalEnergies to build a 1,000-megawatt power plant in Basra and China-based PetroChina to establish another 750-megawatt power plant in Muthanna. The Iraqi government has approved a proposal to award contracts to specialist businesses to create 7,500 megawatts of solar energy by 2030. These projects are part of a larger national plan that intends to generate 12,000 megawatts of solar energy.
Iraqi News
6 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq seeks new approaches to import gas from Turkmenistan
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity has proposed an alternative method to import natural gas from Turkmenistan to address the country's inability to import Turkmen gas, despite a written agreement between the two countries. The spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, Ahmed Musa, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that Iraq had previously signed a gas supply agreement with Turkmenistan for an average of 20 million cubic meters per day. This gas will be transported to Iraq via pipelines that connect Turkmenistan and Iran to compensate for the decreasing gas supplies from Tehran. Musa clarified that this approach has been hindered by the Trade Bank of Iraq's (TBI) inability to issue a letter of credit to allow Iraq to pay for gas imports due to US sanctions on Iran. The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, arrived in Turkmenistan on Sunday to accelerate the fulfillment of a gas supply contract with Iraq. Iraq signed a memorandum of understanding in 2023 with Turkmenistan to import the gas it needs to operate its power plants, according to the Ministry of Electricity, which indicated that the step requires additional negotiations related to the mechanism of transporting gas through Iran. Power plants in Iraq depend on gas imports from Iran, which cover one-third of the country's energy needs. Fadel indicated earlier that Iraq will get gas from Turkmenistan through Iran's pipeline network, which is connected to Iraq and will eventually serve the country's power plants. Over the next five years, the arrangement will allow Turkmen gas to be transported to Iraq across Iran. Iraq has apparently completed all of the required steps to begin importing gas from Turkmenistan in January 2024. The key reason for the delay is the need to execute a detailed agreement with Iran, the country of transit.
Rudaw Net
08-03-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraq continues to import Iranian gas despite expired US waiver
Also in Iraq Compensation for returning Iraqi IDPs paused because no funds Iraq faces energy crunch as US ends waiver for Iranian gas imports Oil and gas law will not be passed this legislative term: Iraqi MP Kurdish farmers in Salahaddin appeal court ruling that gave land to Arabs A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi government officials said on Saturday that gas imports from Iran are continuing despite the expiration of a waiver from the United States, adding that they have alternative plans prepared in case the gas supply is cut off. 'Until today, we have not received any notification regarding the end of the US exemption for importing Iranian gas and imports continue,' Ahmed Musa, a spokesperson for the Electricity Ministry, told Rudaw. In addition, '1,000 megawatts of electricity are imported from Iran through four transmission lines,' he said. The most recent 120-day waiver, issued by former US President Joe Biden to allow Iraq to import Iranian gas without running afoul of sanctions, expired on Saturday. Biden's successor, Donald Trump, announced in early February that he would not renew the waiver as part of his "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. According to Musa, the government is working to obtain a new exemption from the US. Baghdad is prepared in case no extension is given. 'We have prepared the necessary plans and measures for the possibility of not renewing the exemption for importing gas from Iran,' Iraqi government spokesperson Basim al-Awadi told Rudaw. Iraq is largely dependent on its energy imports from Iran, though the supply is irregular. Iran suspended gas exports for weeks during the winter when it had a shortage. Iran has taken several measures to improve its storage and management that have allowed it to meet its commitments to Iraq and Turkey, the oil ministry's official news site Shana stated in late February. Earlier this week, Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziad Ali traveled to Tehran to meet with Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad. 'The meeting highlighted the importance of increased collaboration and partnership in oil, gas, petrochemicals, and electricity as key areas for mutual development,' Shana stated. To protect and strengthen its energy sectors, Baghdad is also working to direct its own natural gas to power generation plants and ending the damaging practice of flaring, is looking for other import options such as Jordan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan, and is boosting its renewable sources. Iraq is constructing a 1,000-megawatt solar project in Basra with France's TotalEnergies, has agreements with Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power for a 1,000-megawatt plant in Najaf, and is close to a deal with the UAE's Masdar for another 1,000 megawatts across four provinces, according to Musa.
Rudaw Net
07-03-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraq faces energy crunch as US ends waiver for Iranian gas imports
Also in Iraq Oil and gas law will not be passed this legislative term: Iraqi MP Kurdish farmers in Salahaddin appeal court ruling that gave land to Arabs Iraq announces 1,000 MW solar power plant in Basra Iraq prepares to host Arab League 34th summit A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Baghdad is hoping to avoid an electricity crisis when it is no longer able to import energy from Iran after a United States sanctions waiver expires. It is looking to other gas sources and boosting the production of renewable energy, the spokesperson for Iraq's ministry of electricity told Rudaw on Friday. 'The official telegram regarding the cancellation of the waivers and the halt of Iranian gas and electricity imports has not yet been received by the ministry,' said Ahmed Musa. A 120-day sanctions waiver, issued by the former US President Joe Biden to allow Iraq to import Iranian gas, will expire on March 8, 2025. Biden's successor, Donald Trump, announced in early February that he would not renew the waiver as part of his "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran. Iraq is largely dependent on its energy imports from Iran. 'We are working closely with the ministry of oil to compensate the affected plants with alternative fuel and ensure that there is no electricity crisis,' Musa said. 'Additionally, we are completing steam power plants that run on locally sourced fuel,' he said adding that 'Iraq's domestic gas production is not enough to meet demand' and they are in 'urgent need' to import gas 'until local production is fully developed.' Musa said it will take three years for domestic gas sources to be able to fully support power stations, according to the Ministry of Oil. He added that Iraq is working to stop flaring associated gas, with 70% already utilized, while also rehabilitating national gas fields. The spokesperson also said that Iraq is constructing a 1,000-megawatt solar project in Basra with France's TotalEnergies, has agreements with Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power for a 1,000-megawatt plant in Najaf, and is close to a deal with the UAE's Masdar for another 1,000 megawatts across four provinces. Increasing electricity imports from Jordan and Turkey is another coping strategy that Iraq might utilize to compensate for the shortage in Iranian gas, according to Musa, who underscored that they are in the process of building transmission lines with the Gulf states. Turkmenistan is another option. 'If imported gas is cut off, we will try to activate the agreement signed with Turkmenistan to import 20 million cubic meters of gas', Musa said, adding that the potential gas supplies from Turkmenistan might cover approximately half of the gas currently supplied by Iran.
Rudaw Net
25-02-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraq to add 3,000 MW of electricity to national grid: Ministry
Also in Iraq Ukraine to open consulate general in Erbil: Ambassador Iraq-Turkey pipeline ready for Kurdistan Oil exports resumption: Iraq Oil Minister Iraq reaffirms OPEC+ commitment as Kurdistan Region oil exports set to resume Iraq announces official census results A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq is set to increase its electrical output by 3,000 megawatts after signing a contract to import liquified natural gas, the electricity ministry said on Tuesday, noting that the added electricity will meet the country's electricity demands during the winter season. 'The contract was made by the oil ministry with a foreign company, and the company will export 600 mmscf [million standard cubic feet] of LNG … which will help produce more than 3,000 megawatts of energy,' ministry spokesperson Ahmed Musa told Rudaw. 'This will meet the citizens' needs during the cold winter season.' Musa said that the electricity ministry does not know which country the gas will be imported from. Despite its vast oil and gas reserves, Iraq suffers from chronic electricity shortages. In July, Musa told Rudaw that the country's power system produces 27,450 megawatts of electricity, but the required load is an average of 48,000 megawatts. The country's electricity demand increases to approximately 55,000 megawatts in the summer, according to Musa. In early February, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani revealed that his government plans to add at least 15,000 megawatts to the country's national grid to reach 'record' production. For years, Iraq's electrical grid has depended on gas imports from Iran to run its power plants. The country lost nearly 5,000 megawatts of power in July 2023 due to Iran completely halting the supply of gas to the southern regions of Iraq, as well as decreasing exports to Baghdad and other central provinces.
